Still

Still my best friend

Still my lover

Still my confidant

Still the joy of my life

Still the one who makes me laugh

Still more adventure

We celebrate 25 years this Tuesday.

The best 25 years of my life.

I love you Bob!

The boys and Meg

Thanksgiving day at my sister in laws house. They were bowling on the Nintendo Wii game and stopped so I could take this picture of the three of them. From left to right, Meg ( Adam's girlfriend she's a sweetheart and so cute) Adam and Josh.

I tried one time to bowl but didn't quite get the hang of the control but really wasn't in the mood either, oh well they had fun.

The end

You decide

Me and my sister on Thanksgiving day. I think we look like twins.

The top ten things I am thankful for

• Jesus as my Lord and Savior


• My husband and best friend Bob


• My two boys, Adam and Josh (both will be with us for Thanksgiving :) ) and of course our the rest of our immediate family.


• Our dear friends Richard and Reta and Dixie, we love you guys.


• A wonderful church


• A wonderful job, a loving boss, the most amazing facility team on the planet, and of course the hallway girls at work.


• Pippi my blind and deaf wiener dog


• Anytime fitness and the girls that cheer me on (especially you Jeanna! )


• Advocare ( vitamins and mineral supplements and spark energy drink- yippy! )


• All the comforts of home

What are you thankful for?

The Grand Canyon

Just a few pictures of the Grand Canyon.

Spectacular!!

Guess who else went to Vegas?

That's right, I was standing in line at the check in counter at the airline when I turned around and who did I see but our one and only Kathy Seller and her husband Tom, on the same plane no less. I squealed with delight, took their picture and never saw them again. Hope they had a great time.

Gadgets

I was so sad this morning when I could not get my IPod to shut off, I love my IPod, it is my hiding place, it is were I connect and think, so needless to say when it doesn't turn off well, it runs the battery down. I plugged it in to charge it when I got home from the gym this morning thinking maybe that would help but no luck, so I decided to log onto Apple and browse for some support. I found help and it walked me through the steps to reset the thing, I was delighted.

A different kind of screen saver .......

If anyone knows me they know I am always cold. So this morning Bob and I went to workout and then we went to Panera for breakfast ( big surprise there) anyway, when we got there I spotted an empty table by the fireplace so I told Bob I was going to go grab it. Well just having a table by the fireplace wasn't good enough for me so while Bob sat in a chair at the table like a normal person I chose to sit right on the ledge of the fireplace. I settled in quit nicely, I finished my bagel and relaxed against the screen of the fireplace and was toasty warm. Seriously I stayed there until I needed to use the restroom and when I started to get up I thought my hoodie jacket was hooked onto something because I could pull it away, nope it wasn't caught on anything, it was actually melting onto the fireplace screen. I have the screen marks on my jacket to prove it. So silly.

Team retreat

Here are some pics of the great Campus Operations team at Granger Community Church enjoying an overnight stay in Union Pier Michigan. We celebrated who we are and what we have accomplished this year for ministry at Granger. What a joy and privilege to serve along side all these fine peeps.
We hung out all evening in one cottage ( we rented 5) eating, playing cards, eating, working on a very complicated puzzle and eating some more until about 12:00pm midnight. The next morning a few of us got up and went for a brisk walk before the sun came up. Some created and enjoyed a large breakfast, some chose to sleep in a bit,and some relaxed in a hot tub, then again we all congregated to one cottage and worked on the puzzle, watched TV and drank coffee right up until it was time to check out. Then we headed to New Buffalo were my husband Bob (who also works at Granger and has the same boss as me) joined the team for some shopping and lunch, and of course we ended the day with ice cream. I believe we all had a wonderful retreat. I know I did. One more thing, I did not get a picture of Tom, who was also there but he had to leave for a few hours and take the shuttle back to church because the other shuttle broke down and a ministry needed a shuttle for Saturday so off he went back to Granger to drop off the shuttle and get his vehicle and come back, he did this and never complained or batted an eye, Tom has such a great heart.

South Haven Michigan

Bob and I spent the day in South Haven Michigan with our good friends Richard and Reta. We walked down to the beach and as I was walking down the trail of steps something caught my eye. I couldn't believe it. It was about 12 feet away from us in the tall grass that grows in the sand. I was talking to it and it just stopped and looked at us for a few minutes. We all kept trying to decide if it was really a fox or not. It was kinda scrappy looking but I kept insisting it was a fox, saying that wild animals aren't plump and well fed like our domesticated monsters we call pets. I decided to Google red fox and this is what I found, I showed it to Bob and he agreed that indeed it was a fox we seen yesterday. I get so excited when I experience this kind of stuff, I mean there we were just feet away from something you just don't see everyday. Hmmmm, a few months ago I seen an owl, yesterday a fox, can't wait to see whats next, lions, tigers or bears? OH MY!

Clarity

Today there was none. I don't like days like that. I feel frustrated, disappointed, angry and hurt.
Anxiety sets in and still there is none. What do I do? What do I say? What am I supposed to think?

Lead me Lord, show me clarity, guide my thoughts and my words, grant me wisdom, affirm me with the truth, pierce my heart for the things that are true and good.

Random vacation stuff on our journey to the Mall of America

• I forgot deodorant and eyeliner,silly me, yes I used Bobs so that I didn't stink.


• We were in Guess Clothing Store when I looked down and hollered money! I picked up a balled up mess of 3 singles and started to reach for another single and a dime still remaining on the floor but because of my big announcement some girl reached down picked up the single looked at me and so I said you can have that one and she kept looking at me so I said is this yours and she said yes so I just handed it to her and left. Bob and I are both convinced that the way she was looking over the bill she picked up that it wasn't really hers, but hey I don't know that for sure but I do know it wasn't mine to begin with either, oh well.


• I see a owl sitting on a road sign which I think is way cool. I don't think I have ever seen an owl before, well maybe a stuffed one.


• We were at the old navy store at the Mall of America and Bob looked up and said " hey there's Tanya from church" yup, we ran into someone we know, it is a small world.


• Friday morning I was getting cleaned up and the fire alarm in our room went off. See http://blog-of-fbob.blogspot.com/ for more detail on this.


• I read Sex God by Rob Bell and In a pit with a Lion on a snowy day by Mark Batterson
• I listened to my I pod and took a long nap.
• I reflected....... a lot!

"Gods very own art show"

Last Saturday Bob and I spent the day with our friends Richard and Reta. We walked the trails at Madeline Bertrand park then headed to St.Joe where the Krasel art show was going on.
We get to St. Joe around 5;30 and Me being the foody I am decided we should eat then walk the art show, so that was the plan. As we are sitting in the restaurant eating I could see some of the artists tents set up. Now keep in mind it is still early in the evening and it doesn't even get dark until 10:00pm, so as I am looking out I am in disbelieve as I watch the vendors close up the tents. Ummmmmm, bummer you could say. So the plans suddenly change and we are going to walk along the Pier after dinner. Well as Reta and I are snapping pictures she stops and says " God is putting on his own art show" my heart smiled, I thanked God for her words and enjoyed the rest of the show.

I gotta day off, I gotta day off

I had the day off today.......sweeeeeeeeeeeeet!! I slept til 6:40 am, went to tan then came home and got on the norditrack for 20 minutes, oh my gosh, I thought I was gonna puke, I don't quite get it, I go for 45 minutes on the elliptical at the gym and I don't feel like I did this morning, oh well, whatcha gonna do? Then I met my dear friend Dixie for lunch, went to old navy then Wal-marts and back home. I was feeling the love so I ironed 7 shirts for Bob. You see I refuse to iron t-shirts, but ya know the music was on the windows were open and the birds were singing,
side note: ( " a bird does not sing because he wants an answer but because he has a song" how awesome is that! ) so ironing it was , oh is he gonna love me :).
I think I may go wash my car and then we are meeting our good friends Richard and Reta for dinner tonight. We have not seen them for 2 weeks cuz they have been on vacation so I am so stoked to see my friends. So for me, it has been a great day off. Thanks Mel.

Happy Birthday America

Celebrate the gift of freedom today!

Thanks to all who have served to make this a free country.

Happy 4th of July.

He's Back

But only for a week. It's been 2 months since Josh left for Florida, we just picked him up at the airport this afternoon, its great to see him, he looks good. he is enjoying school and doing well. Probably won't see much of him this week as he will be hanging with friends. He has already left to go to a friends house for a couple of hours, he will be back soon though, we are meeting Adam and Meg tonight for dinner, looking forward to all of us hanging out.

Ahhhhhhhh the smells of spring

It's Monday May 21st, I just got home from work and I am beat so I sat down to chill out for a few minutes before I start dinner, work on laundry and all the other stuff that goes with keeping house. It is so delightful outside so I opened my windows to let some of the wonderful fresh spring air in. There is such a wonderful fragrance coming in from the lilac shrubs in front of our dining room window that I just wanted to share with everyone and hope that you will also take a moment to look
( and a sniff) around and enjoy the gift of God's amazing creation.

April 27th, 2007 A day to celebrate

Josh left for college this morning. He is off to Full Sail college in Winter Park Florida. He came to work to say goodbye around 10:30am this morning, I held up until I went back to my desk and my hallway buddies asked me how I was doing with his departure. I started to say "I am fine, just don't talk to me" and, well..... the flood gates opened and the meltdowns began. Although I am so excited for Josh and his new adventure in life, I am still a mom and it was tough watching him drive away. I pray Josh pursues this with desire and passion to learn and excel in the talents God has gifted him with. So I celebrate this day with Josh, a new beginning, his dreams, his heart, his life, his future.

My Mom turns 76 this Saturday April 7th

My Mom turns 76 this Saturday. I love her, she is a great Mom and I am glad she's mine. She is an inspiration to me, her Mom died when she was only 14 years old, so she became the Mom, she did the laundry the cooking and took care of her younger brother Tony. She then met my Dad, they had 5 kids ( I'm the baby ) and she cared for all of us, she took care of Dad when he had a heart attach before I was even thought of, and then again when he was 59. Dad did not survive long after the last heart attach. Mom herself has a heart condition, only 40% of her heart actually works, she has suffered a heartache herself. She has had 2 corneal transplant in the same eye (yuck) and a knee replacement. Her younger brother Tony never married and is severely crippled with arthritis. Shortly after Dad died both Mom and Uncle Tony sold their homes and moved in together. Once again with all her psychical conditions Mom is caring for uncle Tony. Bottom line, she is a nurturer, a blessing, a inspiration and a gift from God.
Happy Birthday Ter-Ter, you are loved.

Are you a foody?

My boss has coined the phrase " food is our friend" I love that. I love food. Last Sunday, Our friends Richard, Reta and Bob and I set out to go out to dinner at the Mongolian barbecue in Kalamazoo Michigan http://www.gomongo.com/ Now I am telling you if you like food and fun this is the place to go. You choose your meat, veggies, sauces and spices, then take it up to the bar and the cooks take it and throw it on this grill that they stand at. They work on as many as 8 -10 meals as they rotate around the grill with two long blades. It's a hoot to watch and interact with them, when your meal is almost finished they toss on the sauces and spices to add the final touches to your very own creation. But that's not all, oh my gosh do they have wonderful desserts too, and yes my eyes were bigger than my stomach, I couldn't finish it but I sure gave it the old college try.

I call her my 2 Corinthians girl.

This is my friend Lavon, I call her my 2 Corinthians girl . Her story is amazing. From the time she was a little girl she has had some hard knocks in life.Yet though it all, she has learned from her experiences and uses them to love and help people. I am honored that she is my dear friend. I love her, I laugh with her, I cry with her, I confide in her, I appreciate her probably more than she can imagine. She is a shining star to all who her and she is my friend. Someday she may even write a book. If you know her you are blessed, if you don't, you should.

2 Corinthians 4:8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. yup that's my girl..........

Anytime buddies

Renee and Clarissa all dressed up, this is what happens when you tell them they are getting their picture taken in the morning, silly girls!


Hanz (AKA Kem )
http://kemmeyer.typepad.com
Check out Kem' s blog about anytime fitness, her post inspired me to take picture and post to represent the girls at the gym. WE ROCK!

Clarissa sporting her Mr.T starter package ( this is what she tells me :) )
Kem looking tough!




Franz, Hanz side kick

These are my "anytime buddies"
What a fun bunch of girls just trying to dump the plump.

A day with 3 of my best friends

we began the day by hopping in the car and heading to the light house mall in Michigan city. we left our house at 11:00am and were on our way, we got there around lunch time so we decided to stop in at the newly rebuilt hacienda and pig out on some chips and salsa ( everyone but Reta, she has more will power than the rest of us) so we ate and off we went. we split up once we arrived, and we were off. Bob and I found a few bargains, Richard bought a new pair of Nike tennis shoes (size 14! ah big foot! ). We met up with them and Reta used her honing skill for smelling chocolate and a cup of coffee to navigate our way to the South Bend Chocolate Cafe. Then it was off to Lake Michigan to walk along the pier and take a few snap shots of the ice shelves. It was a beautiful day to walk and get some fresh air.